Attractions in Ao Nang

Attractions in Ao Nang

Ao Nang Bay
This bay is situated some 20 km. from Krabi town. Its white sandy beach stretches to the foot of a prominent limestone range. Accommodation is available along the beachfront. Other facilities include diving shops, boats for rent and sightseeing by canoe. From Ao Nang, tourists may hire boats to visit nearby attractions such as Hat Rai Le, Tham Phra Nang located on the land to the east of Ao Nang, as well as other offshore isles such as Ko Poda, Ko Kai, Ko Mo and Ko Thap.

Hat Noppharat Thara

Khao Khanap Nam
This is a 3-km. long sandy beach located 6 km. from Ao Nang. The beach, paved with tiny seashells, was formerly called “Hat Khlong Haeng” by locals, which means “dried canal beach”. The canal will dry up during low tide and the area turns into a long beach. The headquarters of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park are situated here. The park covers a large area both onshore and offshore.
Website: National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department

Susan Hoi or Fossil Shells Beach
Situated at Ban Laem Pho, 17 kilometres from town. The area was once a large freshwater swamp, home to a kind of snail. Over eons dating from the Tertiary Age, about 40 million years ago, these snails lived and died by the millions. Eventually, weather changes caused the swamp’s disappearance, but by then the layer of fossilised snail shells was 40 centimetres thick, resting on 10 centimetres of lignite below which is the subsoil. Because of geographic upheavals, the fossilised shells are now distributed in great broken sheets of impressive magnitude on the seashore at Laem Pho.

Hat Rai Le
This beach is generally divided into two sections, east and west. West Rai Le offers a broad sandy beach. Although it has less facilities to offer than Ao Nang, West Rai Le is quieter and more peaceful.
Across the peninsula from West Rai Le is East Rai Le, which Hat Rai Le

Hat Tham Phra Nang
varies from the other beaches in the area. It could actually be classified as a mud flat, especially during low tide. Even so, it does offer some rather remarkable views. One end of the beach is covered with mangroves.

Hat Tham Phra Nang
Accessible only by boat, this sweeping beach offers fine-grained white sand and crystalline waters, as well as magnificent cliffs and caves. Although visitors flock to this beach year-round, it is still extremely pristine, and considered to be the most attractive one in the area.
The Inner and Outer Phra Nang Caves, and Phra Nang Lagoon are close by, and offer some truly spectacular views. Accommodation is available over a wide price range. Despite the fact that it is reachable only by boat, this area offers plenty of recreational activities.

Mu Ko Phi Phi
Phi Phi Mu Ko is located an equal distance from both Krabi and Phuket, about 40 km. Made up of six small and large isles, the main features are sheer limestone cliffs and rocks. Some have beautiful beaches and coral reefs. The best time for a visit is between November and April.

Ko Phi Phi Don covers an area of 28 sq. km. Laem Tong in the north offers beautiful marine nature. Diving can be done as well at Laem Hua Raket, Hat Yao and Hin Phae. A number of accommodation is available.

Ko Phi Phi Le is a lovely island that covers an area of only 6.6 sq. km. It is surrounded by limestone mountains and high hills with jutting cliffs. On average, the sea is 20 metres deep and the deepest point to the south of the island is around 34 metres.

Ko Phi Phi Le is blessed with scenic bays such as Ao Pi Le, Ao Maya, and Ao Lo Sa Ma. In the northeast of the island is a large cave called Tham Viking. The cave was renamed “Tham Phaya Nak or “Serpent Cave” by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej because of a stone resembling the mythical creature, which His Majesty saw when he paid a visit here in 1972.

The cave is considered sacred to locals who come here to collect swallows’ nests. Inside the eastern and southern parts of the cave are ancient colour paintings of elephants and various types of boats, including an Arabian sailboat, a European sailboat, a sampan, a Chinese junk, and a steamboat.

It is believed the paintings were the works of sea merchants or pirates because the study of west-to-east ship routes indicates that this area may have been a stopover for boats seeking shelter from storms, transferring cargo or making repairs.

Ko Yung is north of Ko Phi Phi Don. The island has a stone beach to the east and small sandy beaches amid valleys. It is teeming with various kinds of colourful coral reefs.

Ko Phai is north of Ko Phi Phi Don and not far from Ko Yung. Marvellous beaches are in the north and east of the island. The bank of coral reefs with antler corals, in particular, stretches from north to south of the island. The best time to visit Ko Phi Phi is during the monsoon-free season, which is from November to April.

On arrival to Ko Phi Phi Don, trips to the surrounding islands can be made in a long-tail boat. Visitors travelling from Phuket can contact tour operators who organise a one-day trip to Ko Phi Phi.

Mountain which is surrounded by mangrove swamps. There are 2 split paths inside the cave. On the left lies the shortcut to the back of the cave where the sun can shine through, and on the right is a path to a chamber hall believed to have once been a shelter for cave dwellers. Prehistoric paintings of men, animals, human organs and numerous seashells can be seen in the cave. Big human skulls were also discovered, thus inspiring its name, “Big-headed Ghost Cave”.